Mild winter gives MetroWest golf courses a shotgun start

Golfing in January is not unheard of in New England. But it certainly is a rarity, much like this winter of unseasonably warm temperatures and scarce snow.

By Joe O'Connell/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Joe O'Connell/Daily News staff

Posted Mar. 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 5, 2012 at 5:05 AM

By Joe O'Connell/Daily News staff

Posted Mar. 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 5, 2012 at 5:05 AM

» Social News

Golfing in January is not unheard of in New England.

But it certainly is a rarity, much like this winter of unseasonably warm temperatures and scarce snow.

As a result, golfers in MetroWest and the Milford area enjoyed an extended golf season, hitting the links well into February at some courses.

The extra rounds have meant more revenue for courses and an enjoyable winter for those not ready to put their clubs away.

“I think it was just the prospect of being able to play in January or February that got people excited,” said Pete Meagher, head golf professional at Sassamon Trace Golf Course.

The nine-hole course in Natick doesn’t technically close during the winter, although it covers up its greens and installs temporary holes.

But that did not stop people from playing. Since December, about 2,000 rounds of golf were played at Sassamon. Usually it is about 100.

“I’m a town employee, so I’m always here,” Meagher said. “I tell people in the winter, ‘If you want to play, give me a call and we’ll see what we can do.’”

On Wednesday, before the snow started to fall, Meagher said there were a couple of people on the course looking to get one more round in before the bad weather hit.

Hopedale Country Club also allowed golfing during this balmy winter, although golfers could not use the greens or tee boxes.

Greens Chairman Ken Mooradian said there was a steady contingent of five to 15 people on the course most days this winter.

“We are tentatively scheduled to open on March 17,” Mooradian said. “The earliest we have ever opened, that I can remember, was two years ago on March 15.”

Framingham’s Millwood Golf Course shut things down in January, but let golfers on the course a couple of days this winter because the fair weather.

“We will definitely be opening earlier,” said Jim Drake, Millwood’s general manager.

He added that they will continue to open on good days this month, and everything will be open by April.

Stonybrook Golf Course closed in December, although there were some people still playing after the fact, owner Kevin Sullivan said.

“I guess they just wanted to keep on playing,” Sullivan said. “We did have a later season this year and I fully anticipate opening early.”

While public courses have stayed open or re-opened to bring in more money, private courses like Hopkinton Country Club, which closed for the season in December, have stayed closed so course conditions wouldn’t be compromised.

“The private clubs’ decisions are always based on conditions,” said David Lane, Hopkinton’s head golf professional. “You don’t want to jeopardize course conditions just for a couple rounds. This is still New England.”

Page 2 of 2 - The lack of snow also means there will be less cleanup required, and courses are in pretty good condition for this time of year.

“I’ve never seen the course so dry, it’s like May 1 conditions,” said Bill Harrison, president of New England Golf Management, which operates Pinecrest Golf Club in Holliston. “I walked the whole course, and from the lack of snow and rain the course is just perfect. I can’t remember a winter this mild.”

Part of the opening process at New England golf courses is clearing away downed branches, trees and other debris left by harsh winter weather.

But this season, that task will be a small one.

“The biggest thing this time of year is the debris and downed branches,” said Mark Copithorne, the head golf pro at New England Country Club in Bellingham. “Clearing that is a whole period. And obviously we haven’t had to deal with that this year.”

So when area courses do open for the season, some of them in the next couple of weeks, golfers can expect better than ideal conditions for the beginning of the season.

“Most courses, when they open this year, they will be ready to go,” Meagher said.

(Joe O’Connell can be reached at 508-626-3957 or joconnell@wickedlocal.com.)